Concept drawings for 36th America’s Cup monohull are released

23 Nov 2017

Concept drawings for the next America’s Cup boat have been released

Concept drawings for the new 75ft monohull that will contest the 36th America’s Cup in 2021 have been announced by the defender, Emirates Team New Zealand.

The new class will be a foiling monohull on two large canting T-foils and a single T-foil rudder lifting the boat out the water and has been welcomed by Land Rover BAR team principal and skipper, Sir Ben Ainslie.

“The Defender, Emirates Team New Zealand and the Challenger of Record, Luna Rossa have delivered a truly high-performance boat that will make the next America’s Cup an incredible sporting and technical challenge,” he said.

“We can’t wait to start tackling the design and engineering challenges in this new class.”

The concept shows the boat able to right itself in the event of a capsize and roll stability at low speed.

Emirates Team New Zealand says another underlying principle has been to provide affordable and sustainable technology ‘trickle down’ to other sailing classes and yachts, a factor that the previous multihulls did not provide.

“This new class is a real challenge for our design and sailing team. It’s also a great opportunity,” added Land Rover BAR’s CEO, Grant Simmer.

“A new class of boat means a blank sheet of paper and while we can use much of what was learned in AC35 about systems, foils and the associated design and engineering, there’s also a great opportunity to take a jump ahead if we get the conceptual approach right from the start.”

Research work is ongoing and details will be released with the AC75 class rule before March 31 2018.

via Boating Business | Concept drawings for 36th America’s Cup monohull are released.

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Rob Andrews joins Foiling World

27 Nov 2017

Rob Andrews is a co-director of Foiling World

Rob Andrews has joined Foiling World as co-director.

Mr Andrews, who has been involved with Foiling World’s F101 dinghy since August, has been helping to convert the pre-production prototypes into a production version.

“It has all been about attention to detail, such as working with Hyde Sails on the trampoline fitting and specification detail,” he said.

“Confirming with Harken exactly which block or fitting will be used in each specific position and which small change are made to the bespoke fittings as they go into production.”

He added: “When the opportunity came to join as a co-director, I jumped at the chance.”

The production version is now available with the first customers trying their boats in Spain in December.

The F101 trimaran is aimed at making foiling easier for club sailors.

Mr Andrews has been involved with the Land Rover BAR team in the run up to the last America’s Cup and had a similar role developing the SB20.

via Boating Business | Rob Andrews joins Foiling World.

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Five years for the TIWAL dinghy

27 Nov 2017

The TIWAL dinghy has been redesigned to mark its fifth anniversary

The TIWAL sailing dinghy is celebrating five years since it launched at the Düsseldorf Boot Show.

To mark the occasion, in January, the company will show its upgraded inflatable dinghy – more practical, comfortable and affordable than previous versions.

The dinghy – that comes in two bags – received some skepticism when it was first launched, however now 750 boats have been sold in 45 countries.

The new design has a new sail but is still sold with no boom with its surface adapting to the wind strength.

“The TIWAL evolves with our skippers. They bring it to life and we develop the product for them,” explained designer Marion Excoffon.

“Another important development is the overall balance of the boat which has been redesigned.

“The dinghy is more streamlined and responsive, especially in strong winds. Wing cushions have also been added to the TIWAL range of accessories.”

The dinghy can be used on the sea or lakes. It can be transported in a car and assembled in 20 minutes.

via Boating Business | Five years for the TIWAL dinghy.

Clipper Ventures crew member dies during headsail change19 Nov 2017Simon Speirs was changing a headsail when he was washed overboardClipper Ventures has reported the fatality of Simon Speirs, a crew member circumnavigating the globe on board CV30, (GREAT Britain).Mr Speirs, 60, from Bristol, was on the foredeck assisting with a headsail change from Yankee 3 when he was washed overboard. Although he was clipped on with his safety tether, he became separated from the yacht in the Southern Ocean in a rough sea state, in 20 knots of wind, gusting 40. Mr Speirs was recovered back on board within 36 minutes and CPR was administered however he never regained consciousness. The cause of death is unconfirmed but thought to be by drowning.Supported remotelyAll other crew are reported safe and are being supported remotely by the race office. The incident occurred on Saturday, Day 18 in Race 3 of the 13 stage Clipper Race, as the fleet was racing from South Africa to Australia. A full investigation will now be carried out into the full details of the incident, including the reasons his safety tether did not keep him on board.Mr Speirs was a member of the crew since the race start in the UK in August. He had more than 40 years’ dinghy experience and a coastal skipper licence. All Clipper Race crew complete a compulsory four-week training programme before joining the race which covers all aspects of safety at sea, including repeated man overboard training drills, which are also repeated in race stopovers.Mr Speirs had also completed the Clipper Race Coxswain Certificate designed in collaboration with the MCA and the RYA specifically for the Clipper Race. Mr Speirs next of kin have been informed. The yacht is currently heading to Fremantle, Australia.

via Boating Business | Clipper Ventures crew member dies during headsail change.

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New rope range to be launched

07 Nov 2017

Marlow Ropes is to launch a new range at METSTRADE

Marlow Ropes is to launch a new line in its Excel Dinghy range, tested by British and US Sailing teams.

The new Excel R8 range has a Dyneema SK78 core with an eight-plait cover blended from Technora and polyester.

The rope is available in 4mm and 5mm making it suitable as a halyard to work well in cleats. It is also available in 7mm and 8mm where it can be tapered and used as a high-performance sheet operating well in ratchet blocks.

“We are pleased to launch another fantastic product at this year’s METSTRADE show,” said Paul Honess, Marlow’s global leisure marine sales director. “Following rigorous testing by both the British and US sailing teams, we are confident that Marlow’s Excel R8 range will quickly become the first choice for both distributors and end-users.”

Marlow will also show new accessories including durable Dyneema covered shock-cord, a mini-spool counter dispenser and the company’s splicing guide.

via Boating Business | New rope range to be launched.

Modular racing gear up for a DAME Award

01 Nov 2017

The kit is being used by the Dongfeng Race Team and team AkzoNobel in its quest to win the Volvo Ocean Race Photo: Konrad Frost

Innovative new modular ocean racing gear which claims to be four times more waterproof than its counterparts has been nominated for a METS DAME Award.

The Zhik Isotak X ocean range is the result of extensive development work with the Dongfeng Race Team and team AkzoNobel, which is donning the gear in its quest to win the Volvo Ocean Race 2017-18.

Recent additions to the range include the new Hydrovision hood with a completely clear ‘see through’ visor to protect the face and give good all-round vision.

There is now also an ‘Adaptive’ hood and collar on the Isotak X Ocean Smock and Drysuit, which enables the modular hood-collar unit to be inter-changed with different balaclavas.

To provide rigorous testing to the new kit, Zhik has been working with the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) in its quest to develop a better independent standard for waterproof durability in textiles.

Using the new testing methodology Zhik Isotak fabrics have consistently taken 120 minutes to degrade to a similar level as rival products have done in just 30 minutes.

via Boating Business | Modular racing gear up for a DAME Award.

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New CEO for Land Rover BAR

06 Nov 2017

Grant Simmer has been appointed CEO of Land Rover BAR Pic © Guilain Grenier / Land Rover BAR

Grant Simmer is to join the British America’s Cup team, Land Rover BAR, as CEO.

Mr Simmer has competed in ten America’s Cup cycles and been on the winning team four times having started as navigator aboard Australia II during their historic victory in 1983, breaking America’s 132-year stronghold on the Cup.

Recently Mr Simmer has worked with ORACLE TEAM USA leading to speculation the team will not compete in the next edition of the event.

“Grant’s experience and achievements in the America’s Cup are second to none,” said Sir Ben. “He has won the America’s Cup four times, either as a sailor, design coordinator or general manager. He is the right person to help Land Rover BAR achieve the goal to bring the Cup home to Britain.”

Mr Simmer added: “It feels like the right time to be joining the team at Land Rover BAR with the new class of boat due to be revealed this month by the defender, Emirates Team New Zealand.”

Former CEO Martin Whitmarsh will continue as advisor to the team and CEO of the newly formed BAR Technologies formed to commercialise technologies developed through the America’s Cup team.

via Boating Business | New CEO for Land Rover BAR.

Aquafax appointed RWO distributor

06 Nov 2017

Aquafax has been appointed sole UK distributor for RWO

RWO has appointed Aquafax as its sole UK distributor to stock the full range of the company’s performance sailing equipment.

RWO has designed and manufactured deck hardware for more than 45 years and maintain a strong reputation in specialist sail boat equipment focused on the dingy and cruiser markets.

“I’m delighted to be working with Aquafax,” said RWO MD Paul Botterill. “The RWO brand is currently going through something of a rebirth, with new products, new branding and new customer service initiatives all launching this year.”

He added: “I have been impressed by the fresh approach and dedication to customer service that Aquafax brings. Working with them will give us a further boost as we head into 2018.”

RWO is part of the International Marine Holdings Group that also incorporates the Anchor Marine brand of fenders and marker buoys, distributed by Aquafax and Marathon Leisure.

“The famous blue spot logo of Anchor Marine is recognised worldwide and is a high-quality product range made here in the UK,” said Mr Botterill. “An active distribution network plays an important role in our supply chain allowing us to focus more on manufacturing and product development but ensuring we maintain customer support.”

Anchor Marine has manufactured fenders and marker buoys in the UK since the 1970s.

via Boating Business | Aquafax appointed RWO distributor.

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Sensor technology to help race performance

07 Nov 2017

Team AkzoNobel will all wear SAP’s sensors to collect information about their physical conditioning during the Volvo Ocean Race

Team AkzoNobel crew have been equipped with biometric sensors to help them optimise their performance during the Volvo Ocean Race.

Five sailors will wear SAP’s sensors on their wrists 24-hours a day to collect information about physical conditioning such as fatigue, exhaustion, reaction to weather conditions and stress levels. The biometric data gathered could enable the team to make more balanced and informed decisions whilst at sea.

“Having SAP’s new technology available will help us better understand how the sailors are standing up to the rigors of the race,” said team AkzoNobel skipper Simeon Tienpont. “Innovations like this help to push the boundaries of our sport and in the future could help skippers to make better informed decisions about the physical and mental performance of their sailors.”

The data collected from the SAP Leonardo IoT Edge sensors, part of the SAP Leonardo digital innovation system, can be run through predictive analytics once teams arrive at a stopover, to help them prepare for the next leg of the race. The technology will be available to all competing teams in the race

via Boating Business | Sensor technology to help race performance.

Race story: 2017 Rolex Fastnet Race

BY ADMIN • SEPTEMBER 21, 2017 • OLDER, RACING • COMMENTS OFF • 140

Rob Craigie and Deb Fish on the Sun Fast 3600 Bellino finished third overall in IRC Three and won the new trophy for a mixed two handed entry as well as best yacht with a female skipper ©Rolex/Carlo Borlenghi

A record breaking fleet of almost 400 yachts, and 2,700 sailors, competed in this year’s 605 mile Rolex Fastnet Race. Organised by the Royal Ocean Racing Club this has long been the world’s most popular long-distance offshore race by a very large margin.

Competitors ranged from top professionals on superyachts of up to 115ft and the entire fleet in the 2017/8 Volvo Ocean Race, to more modest charter boats, sea school yachts and adventure sailing operations providing an opportunity for their clients to tick an item off their ‘bucket lists’. In the main IRC fleets, 56 of the entries were sailing double handed.

The Fastnet Rock as captured by the legendary photographer Carlo Borlenghi/Rolex

The first boat home was Tony Lawson’s MOD 70 trimaran Concise 10, which completed the course in 1 day, 18 hours and 55 minutes. George David’s Rambler 88 took monohull line honours after two days nine hours, ahead of two larger boats, Ludde Ingvall’s 100ft supermaxi CQS and Tom Brewer’s 115ft Judel/Vrolijk designed Nikata.

This race was also one of the first tests of the entire fleet for the 2017/8 Volvo Ocean Race, which saw the closest of racing throughout the event. Charles Caudrelier’s Dongfeng Race Team won the class, just 56 seconds ahead of Xabi Fernández’s Mapfre. After 63 hours of racing the entire seven strong fleet crossed the finish within 39 minutes.

On corrected time, Didier Gaudoux’s JAN39 Lann Ael 2 took first place overall, 45 minutes clear of Ron O’Hanley’s Cookson 50 Privateer. Pascal Loison’s 33ft Night and Day, the overall winner in 2013, again won the hotly contested, 56-strong double-handed division, ahead of Robin Verhoef and John Van Der Starre’s J112E Ajeto! Sailing the Jeanneau Sun Fast 3600 Bellino, Rob Craigie and Deb Fish took third place in this hotly contested division, breaking the French stranglehold on the top places, and also winning the prize for the first mixed double-handed crew.

Overall winner under the IRC rating system, Didier Gaudoux’s JND 39 Lann Ael 2 © Rolex/Carlo Borlenghi

For many competitors it proved to be a very close race – for instance only three per cent on corrected time separated the boats between places 100 and 160 overall and everyone was sailing around other boats right through the race, even those who took five days to complete the course. Other highlights included multiple dolphin sightings, including boats surfing downwind in the dark at speeds of 15-20 knots at night, with the mammals jumping in the moonbeam ahead of the boat.

The next Rolex Fastnet Race is provisionally scheduled to start on Sunday August 18, 2019.

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